Personally, I dislike this chapter. Thoughts please! REVIEWWW people :D

I sat silently at the long table, my head lost in my hands as I listened to the news broadcast repeat over and over. There were two others in the room, Milly and Rivalz. I had come straight to Ashford Academy from the hospital, ignoring the complaints that Cornelia yelled after me as I left, I also ignored the doctor's warning and now I was feeling the after effects. Rivalz sat across from me; Milly was at my side, her arms wrapped gently around me, making sure not to trigger any pain from the wounds that carved my body. I slowly lifted my head from my hands as I twisted to stare at Milly. I had arrived telling her the news of Suzaku, and the news broadcast had backed it up with an announcement to the world that Suzaku Kururugi, our much beloved Lancelot, had perished in the explosion of the Battle of Mt. Fuji. Milly had grieved openly, bursting into tears at the news, while Rivalz and I kept silent, our own suffering and pain of the loss building up in our own way of grief.

The two had lost so much in the past year, neither of them fought, but were the ones to sit back and watch their friends die. Shirley had been killed, Suzaku as well, and Nina was the mastermind behind the world's most deadly weapon. I could only imagine how they both felt toward what their friends had become. And not to mention, Lelouch, their most trusted friend, was now the enemy of the world, and everyone wanted him dead.

"I'm so sorry..." I whispered, glancing between the two of them, "Everything seems to be ruined."

"Markus, can I ask you a question?"

I glanced toward Rivalz who had spoken up, and I nodded slightly. I would try my best to answer any question he had on his mind, try my best, but I wasn't entirely sure about the entire war myself, and I would probably not know the answer. I only knew about the Knights of the Round. If it were about Nunnally I wouldn't have an answer, I had no idea where she was. The last I had heard, she was with Prince Schneizel, but Lelouch could have stolen her away by now. But if it were about Kallen, then I would have no answer. I hadn't seen her in months, and I did fear at times that she was dead.

"Why are you still wearing you Knight of the Round uniform?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question as I glanced down at my fresh uniform that I had put on in such haste. The crimson clock hung over my shoulders, the tall collar reaching under my ears, its golden rope baring weight on my wounds. I frowned lightly as I lifted my gaze back to Rivalz, my answer clear in my mind.

"Because I serve Princess Cornelia... and no matter what, I still serve the Royal Family of Britannia."

Rivalz nodded at my answer and forced a quick smile, "Just as long as you're not doing anything bad!"

I nodded, "Nothing bad. I promise."

The silence continued, and eerie silence that filled the room, the echoing words of Suzaku Kururugi is dead vanished as Rivalz switched the television off. The few next minutes were just spent reminiscing from what I felt. For me I was trying to wade my way through the sea of my memories, searching for a face, a smiling face, that belonged to my deceased friend, but there was nothing but a blur, a smug of the panic I'd seen in his eyes when he saw that I could have died. I wondered if he had thought I was dead in his last moments. The silence was short lived as the cell phone in my pocket buzzed and I brought it to my ear. It was Cornelia, and I watched the others lean closer to listen. I threw the phone to the centre of the table when the line was disconnected and rose to my feet.

"I... have to go..." I murmured as I glanced toward Milly, "I have to stop Lelouch."

I turned to leave the room quickly, to avoid questions, but only managed to get out the door before a hand reached out and clutched at my arm. I felt the pain burn stronger at the touch before turning slightly to peer over my shoulder. Of course it would be Milly; Rivalz wouldn't have been so desperate to follow me. I felt something shoot through my heart as I saw the sparkling tears fall down her gentle face, and I instantly wanted to reach out and wipe them away, to tell her everything will be alright.

"Don't fight for revenge for Suzaku, Markus!" she was crying now, "You'll only die."

I can't promise that I won't die, no one can do that. I don't have control of the lord's will, and nor will I ever. I frowned delicately as I pulled her into a tight hug, my face buried in her hair as I listened to her sob into my shoulder. I wanted to apologize, but I wanted to promise her. I had not idea what Cornelia had planned, and I wasn't sure if she had planned an attack on the procession where she'd order everyone to be killed and the prisoners set free. I felt my heart sink at the very idea.

"I... love you, Markus. I love you so, so much! I can't let you fight for revenge and die! Not now!"

Alright, I won't fight for revenge. I wanted to tell her again and again that I loved her too, but I couldn't find my words, I just hugged her tighter, my body aching from the wounds that were still fresh against my skin. It seemed so easy to promise in my mind, but even harder to say it out loud and speak the truth. I drew in a breath, her scent burning my lungs as I lifted my head away from hers. She was staring up at me with teary eyes, the sparkling tears sliding down her face with ease. I frowned again and lifted my hand, catching the tears on my fingers and throwing them away.

"If I come back alive - - -", she cut me off.

"You will come back alive!" she demanded.

I smiled and nodded, "If I do, marry me."